Pipe cleaning device



March 10, 1942 wfi H 4 2,275,668

PIPE CLEANING DEVICE Filed Feb. 19, 1940 IN VENTOR. Amaze/v rye/6H7,

BY WJ7W ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES eATENT OFFICE PIPE CLEANING DEVICE Aubern E. Wright, Nappanee, Ind;

Application February 19, 1940, Serial No. 319,588

6 Claims. (Cl. 15-10430) This invention relates to improvements in pipe cleaning devices, and particularly to devices for cleaning sewer pipes. Previous devices of this character have permitted the dislodgement of obstacles such as twigs, leaves, etc, tending to clog afpipe, and have permitted the cutting of tree roots which enter a pipe at its joints. However, these have generally been substantially open ended devices with their working or cutting portions at the inner periphery of the pipe, and hence have not permitted all of the foreign material in the pipe, which tended to obstruct the same, to be removed therefrom for effective cleaning. One such device is illustrated in my Patent No. 1,777,064, dated September 30, 1930.

The primary object of this invention is to providexa device of this character with means to dislodge obstacles in a pipe, and to carry the same through the pipe to a discharge point, such as a sewer manhole.

A further object is to provide an expanding I open ended cleaning device with an end plate which is readily attachable thereto and detachable therefrom.

, A further object is to provide an open ended expanding cleaning device with which an end plate may interlock without the use of special or individual securing. means to hold the end plates in operative relation on the device.

A further object is to provide an adjustable open ended cleaning unit of this character with an end plate readily attachable and detachable solely by adjustment of the cleaning unit, and I without requiring disassembly of the unit.

Otherobjects will be apparent from the description and appended claims.

In the drawing: Fig. ,1 is a View of the device in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 3 is a face view of the end plate. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I0 designates an elongated shaft having its end portions oppositely threaded, and provided with configured terminal portions I I on which an operating tool is adapted to seat. Upon each of the threaded portions of the shaft I0 is mounted 'a spider or other fitting I2. These fittings I2 carry suitable ears in equi-spaced relation, and here shown as five in number, to each of which is pivotally mounted one end of each of a plurality of rods I3. The outer ends of rods I3 are pivoted to brackets I4 which are preferably of substantially U-shape. Brackets I4 are secured to the inner faces of the end portions of elongated flexible blades I5. The blades I5 are equal in number to the total number of the rods I3. Thus, if there are two sets of five rods I3, each set being secured to one of the brackets I2, there will be ten of the blades I5. the blades I5 is pivoted at opposite ends thereof to brackets I4, and the blades are also pivoted at I6 intermediate the length thereof, and preferably centrally thereof. In this way, a substantially cylindrical lazy tongs construction is provided, which is held in cylindrical form by the arms I3, and whose circumferential dimension is determined by the adjustment or position of the spiders I2 upon the shaft I. Thus,,when the spiders I2 are spaced close to each other, the blades will be arranged in a small diameter relation; and as the spiders I2 are spaced further apart they will cause the arrangement of the blades to be shifted with a resulting enlarged circumferential dimension of the blade assembly. It will be seen that the device may be adjusted for various pipe sizes within a given range.

Each of the blades I5 is preferably provided with notched cutting edges I! by means of which they may cut away roots which have grown into a sewer. One of the blades adjacent each bracket I4 is preferably extended and inwardly bent at I8, and a length of chain I9 is secured thereto. The chains I9 are interconnected by a suitable swivel ring 20 connected to operating means therefor, such as a cable, (not shown), by means of which the device may be drawn through the pipe. If desired, the outer end portions of the overlapping blade I5 pivoted to the brackets I4 may be provided with a shoe 2I which will protect the ends of the blades, and will also protect the pivot pin connection between the blades and the brackets I4.

The construction, as aforesaid, is of the type illustrated in my Patent No. 1,777,064, dated September 30, 1930. In connection therewith, it will be seen that the device is substantially open ended, and, except for the spaced apart arms I3 and the comparatively small spider plate I2, there is nothing within the device by means of which material dislodged from or cut from the pipe may be carried with the device to a discharge point, such as a manhole. Consequently, a large part of the dislodged material will remain within the pipe after the cleaning device has been run therethrough, and this may in turn quickly find further lodgement and cause quick development of new obstacles and obstructions.

Each of of the cleaning device past the brackets In order that the material dislodged and cut from the pipe may be efiectively withdrawn therefrom, I propose to provide a plurality of plates 25 as best illustrated in Fig. 3-for use with the device, each to be of a size substantially conforming to, and having a sliding fit within various standard sizes of pipe within'which the device may be passed, For example, I may provide a set of plates of the following diameters, 9, ll,

'14 and 17 inches, to be used with the device when the device is employed to clean the interior of pipes having inner diameters of 10, l2, l5 and 18 inches, respectively. Each plate 25 is provided with a plurality of notches in equi-spaced relation at its periphery. These notches are preferably of substantially T-shape, and each comprises a long shallow portion 26 and a narrow deep radially extending portion 21 projecting centrally from the shallow portion 26. The plate is provided with a hole 28 at its center.

To use these plates with the device, the device is expanded to a size larger than that intended for the pipe to be cleaned, and a plate of a diameter selected to correspond with that of the pipe to be cleaned is then inserted within one end [4. Thereupon, the shaft Ill may be rotated to reduce the circumferential dimension of the blade assembly I5, to cause the blades to seat within the shallow notches 26 and the arms l3 to seat in the deep notches 21. The plate 25 is preferably positioned in engagement with theinner edges of the brackets I4 which will bear upon grime plate at the opposite sides of the deep notches with respect to the cleaning device is prevented by the inclined radial arms l3. The central opening 28 of the plate permits the end of shaft II to extend freely therethrough. The plate may be mounted at either end of the cleaning device as desired, so that the rings 26 on the chains l9 need not be disconnected from the operating cables (not shown) in order to apply the plates 25.

It will be seen that the mounting of plate 25 within the cleaning device, as-shown, serves to provide an end closure substantially spanning the interior of th pipe, and thus insures that all material within the pipe and dislodged by the device in the operation thereof will be carried along with the device to a discharge point, such as a manhole. Also, it will be noted that, by reason of the ease and simplicity with which the plate 25 can be applied, the operation of applying or removing the same, or of changing from one size plate to another, can be performed within a manhole so that the use of the plate does not consume too great a period of time in its application or installation.

I claim:

1. The combination with an expanding sewer cleaner having a plurality of blades pivotally interconnected in cylindrical lazy tong formation, and means for adjusting the diameter of said blade assembly including inclined radial arms having a pivot connection with the ends of said blades including an inwardly extending portion, of a plate having peripheral notches for receiving the ends of said blades, said plate seating inwardly with respect to said pivot connection to be positioned between said pivot connection and an intermediate portion of said radial arms.

2, In combination, a plurality of blades pivotally interconnected in cylindrical lazy tong formation, means for adjusting the diameter of said blade assembly, a substantially circular transversely positioned plate embraced by said blades adjacent one end thereof and inwardly extending abutments connected with said blades for positioning said plate with respect to said blades.

3. In combination, a plurality of resilient elongated blades arranged to form a cylindrical unit and each pivotally connected with others at its ends and its center, brackets projecting inwardly from the ends of said blades, means for adjusting the diameter of said unit including inwardly extending radial arms pivotally connected with said brackets, and a circular plate having peripheral notches receiving said blades and said arms,

said plate being operatively positioned between said brackets and arms.

4. In combination, a plurality of elongated blades pivotally interconnected and arranged to form an expansible cylindrical unit, a plurality of radial arms each pivotally connected at one end to an inwardly projecting part on the end of one of said blades, members pivotally connecting together the other ends of said arms, an elongated central shaft adjustably mounting said connecting members, and a circular plate clamped transversely between said blades adjacent one end thereof and between said part and said arms and having a. central opening receiving said shaft.

5. The combination defined in claim l, wherein said plate is circumferentially notched to receive the ends of said blades.

6. The combination defined in claim 4, wherein said plate is provided with perimetral notches each having a wide shallow outer. portion receiving a blade and a narrow deep central portion receiving a portion of an arm when said plate is positioned inwardly of said brackets.

AUBERN E. WRIGHT. 

